AP Physics 1 Flashcards: Gravitational Force

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Gravitational Force, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Physics 1.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What does $m_2$ stand for in the gravitational force formula?

Answer: Mass of the second object. Second object's mass in the gravitational force equation.

Flashcard 2: How does gravitational force affect tides on Earth?

Answer: Causes tidal forces. Moon's gravity creates differential forces causing ocean tides.

Flashcard 3: What does $r$ stand for in the gravitational force formula?

Answer: Distance between the centers of masses. Distance measured from center to center, not surface to surface.

Flashcard 4: What happens to gravitational force if $m_1$ is tripled?

Answer: Force triples. Force is directly proportional to each mass individually.

Flashcard 5: What principle does Newton's law of universal gravitation illustrate?

Answer: Every mass attracts every other mass. Newton's law applies universally to all objects with mass.

Flashcard 6: Describe the effect of mass on gravitational attraction.

Answer: Greater mass, stronger attraction. More massive objects exert stronger gravitational pulls.

Flashcard 7: What is the effect on gravitational force if the distance $r$ is doubled?

Answer: Force is quartered. Force varies as $1/r^2$, so doubling distance reduces force by factor of 4.

Flashcard 8: What does $m_2$ stand for in the gravitational force formula?

Answer: Mass of the second object. Second object's mass in the gravitational force equation.

Flashcard 9: What is the gravitational force between two 1 kg masses 1 m apart?

Answer: $6.674 \times 10^{-11} \text{ N}$. Substituting $m_1 = m_2 = 1$ kg, $r = 1$ m into Newton's formula.

Flashcard 10: What happens to gravitational force if both $m_1$ and $m_2$ double?

Answer: Force quadruples. Each mass doubles, creating a $2 \times 2 = 4$ factor increase.

Flashcard 11: How does the gravitational force change with altitude?

Answer: Decreases with altitude. Higher altitude means greater distance from Earth's center.

Flashcard 12: State the formula for gravitational force between two masses.

Answer: $F = G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2}$. Newton's universal gravitation formula relating force to masses and distance squared.

Flashcard 13: What is required for gravitational force to exist between two objects?

Answer: Both objects have mass. Only objects with mass can exert or experience gravitational force.

Flashcard 14: What is the relationship between gravitational force and gravitational field strength?

Answer: Force = mass × field strength. Gravitational field strength equals force per unit mass.

Flashcard 15: What is required for gravitational force to exist between two objects?

Answer: Both objects have mass. Only objects with mass can exert or experience gravitational force.

Flashcard 16: How does gravitational force compare on different planets?

Answer: Varies with planetary mass and radius. Different planetary properties create different gravitational field strengths.

Flashcard 17: State the relationship between gravitational force and mass.

Answer: Directly proportional. Larger masses produce stronger gravitational forces.

Flashcard 18: How does gravitational force change when $r$ is halved?

Answer: Force quadruples. Halving distance means $r^2$ becomes $r^2/4$, so force increases 4 times.

Flashcard 19: State the relationship between gravitational force and distance.

Answer: Inversely proportional to $r^2$. Force decreases rapidly as distance increases due to square relationship.

Flashcard 20: What is the gravitational force exerted by Earth on a 1 kg object at its surface?

Answer: Approximately $9.8 \text{ N}$. Weight of 1 kg object equals mass times Earth's surface gravity.

Flashcard 21: What is the relationship between gravitational force and gravitational field strength?

Answer: Force = mass × field strength. Gravitational field strength equals force per unit mass.

Flashcard 22: What is the gravitational force between two 1 kg masses 1 m apart?

Answer: $6.674 \times 10^{-11} \text{ N}$. Substituting $m_1 = m_2 = 1$ kg, $r = 1$ m into Newton's formula.

Flashcard 23: What is the relationship between gravitational force and gravitational potential energy?

Answer: Potential energy depends on force and distance. Potential energy is the integral of force over distance.

Flashcard 24: State the relationship between gravitational force and distance.

Answer: Inversely proportional to $r^2$. Force decreases rapidly as distance increases due to square relationship.

Flashcard 25: Describe the effect of mass on gravitational attraction.

Answer: Greater mass, stronger attraction. More massive objects exert stronger gravitational pulls.

Flashcard 26: How does gravitational force influence satellite motion?

Answer: Provides necessary centripetal force. Earth's gravity supplies the centripetal acceleration for orbital motion.

Flashcard 27: Identify the units of the gravitational constant $G$.

Answer: N m²/kg². Derived from force units divided by mass squared times distance squared.

Flashcard 28: What is the effect on gravitational force if the distance $r$ is doubled?

Answer: Force is quartered. Force varies as $1/r^2$, so doubling distance reduces force by factor of 4.

Flashcard 29: What is the value of the gravitational constant $G$?

Answer: $6.674 \times 10^{-11} \text{ N m}^2/\text{kg}^2$. Standard value of the universal gravitational constant.

Flashcard 30: What is the gravitational force on a satellite orbiting Earth?

Answer: Centripetal force maintaining orbit. Gravitational attraction provides the inward force needed for circular motion.

Flashcard 31: What happens to gravitational force if one mass doubles?

Answer: Force doubles. Force is directly proportional to each mass in the equation.

Flashcard 32: What is the gravitational force on a satellite orbiting Earth?

Answer: Centripetal force maintaining orbit. Gravitational attraction provides the inward force needed for circular motion.

Flashcard 33: Find gravitational force if $m_1 = 2 \text{ kg}$, $m_2 = 3 \text{ kg}$, $r = 1 \text{ m}$.

Answer: $4.00 \times 10^{-10} \text{ N}$. Using the gravitational force formula with the specified masses and distance.

Flashcard 34: How does the gravitational force change with altitude?

Answer: Decreases with altitude. Higher altitude means greater distance from Earth's center.

Flashcard 35: How does gravitational force change if both masses double?

Answer: Force quadruples. Each mass doubles independently, so total force increases by $2 \times 2 = 4$.

Flashcard 36: How does gravitational force change if both masses double?

Answer: Force quadruples. Each mass doubles independently, so total force increases by $2 \times 2 = 4$.

Flashcard 37: Find gravitational force if $m_1 = 2 \text{ kg}$, $m_2 = 3 \text{ kg}$, $r = 1 \text{ m}$.

Answer: $4.00 \times 10^{-10} \text{ N}$. Using the gravitational force formula with the specified masses and distance.

Flashcard 38: Identify the units of the gravitational constant $G$.

Answer: N m²/kg². Derived from force units divided by mass squared times distance squared.

Flashcard 39: What is the value of the gravitational constant $G$?

Answer: $6.674 \times 10^{-11} \text{ N m}^2/\text{kg}^2$. Standard value of the universal gravitational constant.

Flashcard 40: How does gravitational force compare on different planets?

Answer: Varies with planetary mass and radius. Different planetary properties create different gravitational field strengths.

Flashcard 41: Identify the type of force gravitational force is considered.

Answer: Attractive force. Gravity always pulls objects together, never pushes them apart.

Flashcard 42: State the formula for gravitational force between two masses.

Answer: $F = G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2}$. Newton's universal gravitation formula relating force to masses and distance squared.

Flashcard 43: What happens to gravitational force if $m_1$ is tripled?

Answer: Force triples. Force is directly proportional to each mass individually.

Flashcard 44: Identify the type of force gravitational force is considered.

Answer: Attractive force. Gravity always pulls objects together, never pushes them apart.

Flashcard 45: What does $G$ represent in the gravitational force formula?

Answer: Gravitational constant. Universal constant that makes the gravitational formula dimensionally consistent.

Flashcard 46: What is the relationship between gravitational force and gravitational potential energy?

Answer: Potential energy depends on force and distance. Potential energy is the integral of force over distance.

Flashcard 47: What happens to gravitational force if both $m_1$ and $m_2$ double?

Answer: Force quadruples. Each mass doubles, creating a $2 \times 2 = 4$ factor increase.

Flashcard 48: What does $m_1$ stand for in the gravitational force formula?

Answer: Mass of the first object. First object's mass in the gravitational force equation.

Flashcard 49: State the relationship between gravitational force and mass.

Answer: Directly proportional. Larger masses produce stronger gravitational forces.

Flashcard 50: What role does gravitational force play in planetary orbits?

Answer: Keeps planets in orbit. Solar gravity provides centripetal force maintaining planetary orbital motion.

Flashcard 51: What does $r$ stand for in the gravitational force formula?

Answer: Distance between the centers of masses. Distance measured from center to center, not surface to surface.

Flashcard 52: In which direction does gravitational force act?

Answer: Towards the center of the masses. Gravity always pulls objects toward each other's centers.

Flashcard 53: What does $G$ represent in the gravitational force formula?

Answer: Gravitational constant. Universal constant that makes the gravitational formula dimensionally consistent.

Flashcard 54: What is the gravitational force exerted by Earth on a 1 kg object at its surface?

Answer: Approximately $9.8 \text{ N}$. Weight of 1 kg object equals mass times Earth's surface gravity.

Flashcard 55: How does gravitational force change when $r$ is halved?

Answer: Force quadruples. Halving distance means $r^2$ becomes $r^2/4$, so force increases 4 times.

Flashcard 56: How does gravitational force affect tides on Earth?

Answer: Causes tidal forces. Moon's gravity creates differential forces causing ocean tides.

Flashcard 57: What happens to gravitational force if one mass doubles?

Answer: Force doubles. Force is directly proportional to each mass in the equation.

Flashcard 58: What principle does Newton's law of universal gravitation illustrate?

Answer: Every mass attracts every other mass. Newton's law applies universally to all objects with mass.

Flashcard 59: How does gravitational force influence satellite motion?

Answer: Provides necessary centripetal force. Earth's gravity supplies the centripetal acceleration for orbital motion.

Flashcard 60: What does $m_1$ stand for in the gravitational force formula?

Answer: Mass of the first object. First object's mass in the gravitational force equation.

Flashcard 61: What role does gravitational force play in planetary orbits?

Answer: Keeps planets in orbit. Solar gravity provides centripetal force maintaining planetary orbital motion.